Quincy B Street Market organizers look for aid

QUINCY — Current Quincy B Street Market manager Chelsea Putnam said the town’s street market will be open for summer 2023. However, Putnam said founders are looking for people to take over its operation to ensure it stays open in summers to come.

Putnam is one of four people on the market’s board, and all of whom, she said Wednesday, are looking at moving on.

“All of us are kind of being directed on different paths, for one reason or another,” she said.

The market will be changing its hours for 2023, she said, going back to the first and third Saturday of each month from June through September. The 2022 market was open every Saturday, weather permitting.

“But we didn’t get the response we were hoping for,” she said.

Putnam and fellow market founder Micalah McCreary told Quincy City Council members Tuesday night that Quincy residents have responded to the appeal for help to keep the market going. In a separate interview Wednesday, she said five to six people have volunteered to help maintain it.

“They’re serious about helping in some capacity,” she said. “That’s very promising.”

That will help support the market in 2023, but Putnam told council members she’s thinking about the future.

The positions that organizers are looking to fill for 2023 are the treasurer, entertainment coordinator, promotion and advertising manager and market manager. Putnam and McCreary requested the city consider making the market manager a paid position in some capacity.

Putnam told the council the market has finished with a profit every year, which prompted a question from council member Andrew Royer.

“If it is revenue positive, have you approached (organizations) like the Chamber of Commerce, or those brick and mortar (businesses) that are located there, as it is a revenue positive venture and an asset to their business? Is there any interest in that realm?” Royer asked.

“We have reached out to other nonprofits, and specifically the Chamber, which has supported us a lot, (but) they do not have the capacity to take this on, is what I was told. It is the same for the brick and mortar (businesses),” Putnam said.

Businesses along B Street SW and surrounding streets are working to establish a committee to promote activities in that area, she said, but that committee is still a work in progress.

Quincy Mayor Paul Worley said city officials are willing to help, within the limits of what’s possible.

“We’ll get that to a committee and see what we can figure out, run it by the attorney and everyone else,” Worley said.

City Manager Pat Haley suggested market organizers contact the Port of Quincy, which might be in a better position to provide support for a paid market manager.

“This is what they do,” Haley said.

Putnam said the founders will continue to be involved, at least for the 2023 season.

“We’re going to be there behind the scenes, helping,” she said.

The market has expanded each year it has been in operation, she said, and the organizers want that momentum to continue.

“There’s so much room for this market to grow,” Putnam said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.

Want to pitch in?

Those wanting to help the B Street Market grow can reach out to Chelsea Putnam at 509-699-6588.